Gutter repair: the part that failed, fixed on the gutter you have
Most gutters we are called to in Buffalo Grove, Northbrook, Wheeling and the rest of the north suburbs are not worn out. One corner drips, one run has dropped off its hangers, or a storm bent a section. State Restoration Services finds which part failed, repairs that part, and tells you plainly when a run is past repairing.
Six places a gutter fails, and the repair at each
You can usually tell which of these you have from the driveway in a steady rain. The repair is different at every one, which is why a quote that says only "fix gutters" tells you very little.
Corners and end caps
A drip from under a mitre, or a dirt stripe straight down from an end cap.
The old sealant is dug out, the metal cleaned, and the joint resealed. A joint that has opened wider than 1/4 inch is refastened or rebuilt first, because sealant is not rated for that gap.
A run that holds water
A dip in the middle of a run, or ice building at one spot every winter.
The run is re-set to a string line at about 1/4 inch of fall for every 10 feet toward the downspout, so water stops standing in it.
Spikes and loose hangers
Round spike heads standing proud of the gutter face, or a gap between the gutter and the house.
We re-hang on hidden hangers with screws, one every 18 inches, the spacing the hanger maker gives for heavy ice and snow load.
The outlet
A wet wall or a drip right where the downspout meets the trough.
The outlet flange is resealed, or the outlet replaced when the cut in the trough has torn or corroded.
The downspout
Water running out of the joints on the way down, or a downspout dented shut.
Sections assembled upside down are refitted with the larger end over the smaller one, and crushed sections and elbows replaced.
The fascia behind it
Peeling paint, dark staining or soft wood behind the gutter line.
Every hanger screw ends in this board. Soft fascia is repaired or replaced before the gutter goes back up, as part of our siding and exterior trim work.
The longer explanations live in two of our guides: what holds a gutter up and why it sags, and why one-piece gutters still leak at the corners.
What those parts look like on real houses
Three of our own gutter jobs in the Chicago area. They show the joints that most repair calls are about.
What a repair quote from us spells out
After the free inspection you get the work written line by line, so you can see what is being fixed and compare it with any other quote.
When we repair a run, and when we replace it
The shape of the aluminum and the state of the wood decide it, not how bad the sag looks from the street.
| What we find | What we do |
|---|---|
| Trough straight, a few spikes backed out | Repair: re-hang on hidden hangers at 18 inches |
| Joint tight, old sealant cracked | Repair: remove the old sealant, clean, reseal |
| Fascia soft in patches | Repair the fascia first, then re-hang the same gutter |
| Trough creased or kinked where it pulled away | Replace that run: a creased trough holds water |
| Mitre bent, split or corroded | Replace the corner piece |
| Fascia soft along the whole run | New fascia, then a new run |
When most runs on the house land in the bottom rows, it is time to price new gutters next to the repair, and to settle whether gutter guards belong on them.
What replacing one 40-foot run costs
A reseal or a re-hang is small work. When one run has to go, these are our published Chicago-suburb prices applied to a single 40-foot run.
new aluminum gutter at $6 to $14 per foot, installed
taking down the old run at $1 to $2 per foot
for the run, before downspouts and any fascia work
Moving that run up to 6-inch gutter adds $1 to $3 per foot. The full price list by material is in how much gutters cost per foot.
Storm damage or ordinary wear
Gutters bent, crushed or torn off in a specific hail or wind storm are a sudden loss and can be part of a homeowners claim. Sealant that aged out and spikes that worked loose over the years are maintenance, which policies exclude. Photograph the damage before anything is cleared.
Who does what on a claim
We document gutter and downspout damage with photos and measurements and write a code-compliant estimate. Illinois law does not let a roofing contractor negotiate a claim, so our partner, the licensed Illinois public adjuster State Adjusting Services, can represent you with the insurer. Our storm and insurance page and the guide to hail damage to gutters and downspouts explain more.
Gutter repair questions we get asked
Can sagging gutters be re-hung instead of replaced?
Yes, when the trough is still straight and the fascia behind it is sound. We take out the spikes, fit hidden hangers with screws every 18 inches and re-set the pitch. A run that has creased where it pulled away, or hangs on soft wood along its length, needs more than a re-hang.
Can you fix a gutter that leaks at the corner?
Usually. If the joint is still tight and only the sealant has failed, we remove the old sealant, clean the metal and reseal it. A corner that has opened wider than 1/4 inch, or a mitre that is split or corroded, is rebuilt or replaced instead.
How much does it cost to replace one section of gutter?
At our published $6 to $14 per foot for new aluminum gutter plus $1 to $2 per foot to remove the old one, a single 40-foot run comes to about $280 to $640 before downspouts. Fascia work, if the board is soft, is priced as its own line.
Does homeowners insurance pay for gutter repair?
It depends on the cause. Damage from a specific storm is generally a sudden loss, while loose spikes and aged sealant are wear and tear, which policies exclude. We document storm damage for your claim, and our partner public adjuster can represent you if the claim needs it.
Send us a photo through the contact page or call (866) 992-2982. The office is open Monday to Friday, 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM, and Saturday and Sunday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Want this looked at?
We inspect for free, document what we find and prepare a code-compliant estimate you can hand to your insurer. Our partner, a licensed public adjuster, State Adjusting Services, can represent you on the claim.
Call (866) 992-2982. Free Inspection